June 2019

2 June Tour de l'Île

Present : A.T. Lane, G. T. Bishop, & Henry Strumey Minutes by A.T. Lane
Length of ride: 50 km
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Map of ride

The Tour de l'Île is a very popular ride in Montreal and always attracts a huge crowd, even when rain is forecast. Henry Strumey and A.T. Lane managed to hook up before funneling through the starting gate, G.T. Bishop was somewhere else in the crowd.

The two able to keep together by finding distinctive hair styles to follow. However this only worked for a while and they became separated.

One nice thing about the Tour de l'Île is the people who cheer you on. Sometimes in the rain however they seem to find strategic overpasses near the mileage markers to stand under.

Didn't stick around much at the finish but headed home for a warm shower.

4 June Train Museum

Present : A.T. Lane, G. T. Bishop, Louis Rubenstein & Henry Strumey Minutes by John James Henry Strumey
Length of ride: 42 km
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Map of ride

The June 4 meeting of the Montreal Bicycle Club comprised taking the Montreal EXO train from Vendome station to Cote St Catherine thence a cycle to St Constant and a tour of the Railway museum thence a cycle to the Restaurant at the Seaway Park in Cote St Catherine…a vigorous cycle along the seaway causeway..a headwind push across the Ice Bridge thence to Atwater Market where the meeting adjourned and the participants went their separate ways…Westmount for the thespian, the Plateau for the river boat captain, NDG for the smooth talking stock broker and Lachine for the rocket scientist.

Wee Wheelmen

We observed many interesting aspects of the Canadian Railway history…the scenic rail carriage that would take you around Montreals 2 mountains (Westmount and Mt Royal) for 50 cents…this is the same route taken by the MBC referred to as the Twin Peaks ride. We had a terrific history lesson while on the “electric tram/trolley” by a master story teller who knew which cars ran on which lines in Montreal and why..we marvelled at the engine room of a classic steam engine..watched a video of the big rotary snow plow in action as it cleared the pass in the Rockies..we took a ride on the miniature railway complete with treacle bridges and tunnels. All in all a really interesting visit.. I have lined my grandson up, who loves Thomas the train, for a visit.

The seaway park was not yet completely operational it being early June but was very popular with several groups of “vintage” cyclists enjoying the area. The restaurant was not open, apparently there were preparing for a special event…that did not include us. Regrettably the “smooth talking Stock Broker” did not notice the others having a mini lunch break and rode off into the sunset ahead of us…not to be seen again.. we assume he got home ok..the ride on the seaway causeway was pleasant with a nice following wind and the bugs were just making their presence felt…The Ice Bridge provided a stiff headwind for the 2.5 km stretch across the St Lawrence. As noted above the meeting was adjourned and the participants went madly off in several directions.

A good ride..

Henry Sturmey
respectfully submitted by Henry Sturmey

Addendum

I imagine you all must have laid awake last night but I managed to grab a branch after I fell in. The water was very rough and cold but I eventually got ashore.

No worries good buddies - I am safe and sound in dry clothes.
Louis

9 June Tour de Ville

Present : A.T. Lane, G. T. Bishop, Minutes by A.T. Lane
Length of ride: 25 km
Map of ride

After meeting at the Shaika Cafe the members searched out MIA cards on Sherbrooke street and then bought some tickets to the Fringe Festival.

Marking the Western end of the Sherbrooke street bike path.

Marking the bike path in front of the Montreal Fine Arts Museum during the Tour de Ville.

11 June Sauvons la Falaise

Present : A.T. Lane, H.S. Tibbs, Louis Rubenstein, Kent & Pascal Minutes by A.T. Lane
Length of walk: 5 km
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Map of ride

Searching for landmarks.

Like the Orange Chair beside the Two Tires

After meeting across from the hole in the fence, the members headed out to the Falaise to inspect the paths and do some photo-mapping. A.T. Lane later learned that the camera has to have the GPS-REC switch on as well as GPS switch on in order to save the locations.

13 June Technoparc

Present : A.T. Lane, H.S. Tibbs, Louis Rubenstein, G.T Bishop & Alice Hawkins Minutes by H.S. Tibbs
Length of ride : 62 km
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Map of ride

Having convened at ShaÏka café and opined on many of the issues of the day, a quorum of five set out for Techno Park. The route was westwards along the de Maisonneuve cycle path, down Devil’s hill, into Lachine by the back door, and down to the canal head. Water levels were surprisingly still very high. Continuing westwards along the water’s edge we were sailed along by a strong south-east wind which riled lac St Louis into a broad choppy basin of whitecaps. These brown flood waters of the Ottawa in places were driven by the wind into a spray across the road.

Lunch was enjoyed in Pointe Claire at an outdoor café. We then made our way through the garden suburbs of the West Island to the other side of the 20 by way of a tunnel at the Cedar Point train station. We approached Techno Park from the west side of Dorval airport. An attempt was made to short cut across the Dorval golf course. Part of our contingent almost made it to the fence. We regrouped and went around the golf course to the north by way of Aviation Boulevard. It led to St Francois and the trail entries to Techno Park. We took the trail that led into a beautiful mature forest of maple and beech but were annoyed by a swarm of mosquitoes. Returning to the start, Sharon and Tibbs took another trail into the Park that led to open prairie and grasslands and finally the long pond. Being more open the winds blew the mosquitoes away.

The return to the city centre was trying. The amount of traffic, the incomplete cycle path network, wind gusts, all contributed to making it difficult. A pleasant surprise was meeting Dara along Alexis Nihon boulevard. We were all relieved to reach NDG where we cycled on quiet residential streets. The quorum dispersed, as is its wont, at various points nearer their homes. It was a good ride.

18 June P'tit Train du Nord

Present : A.T. Lane, H.S. Tibbs, Minutes by A.T. Lane & H.S. Tibbs
Length of ride : 85 km
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Map of ride

A.T. Lanes' version of the Minutes

After taking the train to St Jerome, and a hearty breakfast, the members headed north on the trail.

Taking note of the local flora and fauna.

As always, we also took note of how bicycles fit into all this.

Trying to find the best places to eat, or what to eat.

Held up by traffic on the return trip, we narrowly missed the train home and had to read a newspaper as we waited for the next one.

H.S Tibbs version of the Minutes

A..T. and Tibbs were the only riders on the classic St Jerome to Val David cycling day-out.    It was a beauty.   Perfect cycling temperature, 24 C, slight breeze, and occasional cloud cover made for a relatively easy climb up into the Laurentians.    The Rivière du Nord had great flow, high water levels, fantastic sight.

We had a light breakfast at the café facing the old train station in St Jerome, excellent croissant.    At the turn-around point in Val David we had a tasty lunch in the Le Général Café.   We were having such a good time jabber-wocking on our return to St Jerome that we missed our train back to Montreal by a minute.   So we spent an extra two hours in St Jerome next to the city centre space at the portal to the Petit Train du Nord discussing AI while listening to two young composers playing piano three hand in a Philip Glass style.

The train back had a little detour in that we were asked to de-train at Parc and take the métro from there because of a fire near the tracks between Parc and Montreal West.    So it was quite a day, almost too much of a good thing.

20 June FOGBEE's Tour of Montreal

Present : A.T. Lane, G. T. Bishop, Louis Rubenstein, W.G. Ross & FOGBEE's Minutes by A.T. Lane
Length of ride: 30 km
FOGBEE account of the ride
Photographs
Map of ride

A first meeting at the Cafe Noir

Much sought location for the Olympic Stadium photo.

Photo Op with Rocket Richard

A sad farewell on the Jacques Cartier bridge.

A great day spent riding in the rain and chatting over coffee with the FOGBEEs, who were on a cycling tour around Lake Champlain and spent some time in Montreal. Probably best described here.

22 June Îles-de-Boucherville

Present : A.T. Lane, Louis Rubenstein, W.G. Ross, H.S Tibbs & Isabelle Minutes by A.T. Lane
Length of ride: 70 km
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Map of ride

The members met at the Shaika Cafe at 8:00 am, before the Cafe opens, in order to be certain of catching the ferry. On the way they passed by the new bike light on Claremont. You can sense the feeling of accomplishment as H.S. Tibbs passes by.

Thanks to the early start, everyone was on time for the ferry from Montreal to Les Îles-de-Boucherville. Once on board however we learned that due to high water, no ferry would be running from Les Îles-de-Boucherville to the South Shore that day. The member's spirits seemed unaffected however.

Once on the islands, we noticed the new connecting bridges and the fact the inter island ferry is still operating beside the bridge. Later we at lunch at the Long House, then took note of the effect the high water was having on the South Shore ferry service.

Riding back along the trails and bridges on the islands, we returned by ferry to Montreal.

Resolving to make a loop return, we discovered a new (to us) bicycle path north of the earlier route. The members broke up as they do at the end of each ride with everyone choosing a different path home.

26 June Oka Ferry

Present : A.T. Lane, Louis, & W.G. Ross Minutes by A.T. Lane
Length of ride: 83 km
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Map of ride

Meeting at Gare Centrale, the members boarded the train to Deux Montagnes before setting out on the trail to Oka. They discussed the transportation news that morning about plans to add a dedicated Via Rail route between Quebec City and Toronto as well as how the Mont Royal tunnel would be affected by that and the REM. Some of the best comments on this can be found on Anton Dubrau's blog or the Trainsparence website.

We stopped for a lunch break and a few photos at Oka parc.

Oka Ferry Hudson side exit June 2019

Oka Ferry Hudson side exit May 2018

The higher water levels around Montreal have resulted in a late starting date for the 2019 season of all the ferries in the region as well as changes to the ramps that access them.

As always, we took note of how bike paths and were constructed as well as anything else of interest.

That same day, it was announced that a new streetcar route from Lachine to Downtown is being planned as well being the day the pedelec electric Jump bikes from UBER became available in Montreal. It seems there are a lot of changes happening to the transportation around Montreal. I hope the city maintains or improves it's standing as one of the best to cycle in.

29 June Île Bizard

Present : A.T. Lane, W.G. Ross, Louis Rubenstein, Karl Kron & Isabelle Minutes by A.T. Lane
Length of ride: 97 km
Photographs
Map of ride

Cafe The members met at the Shaika then headed north, negotiating the "Nasty Bits" near the Decarie Expressway and the Trans Canada Highway. One of the less commented upon regions of Montreal's top 20 position as the best cycling cities in the world.